CHAPTER NINE
Baby we built this house on memories
I do not own Harry Potter
-o0o0o0o-
Harry didn't know how exactly this became his routine. He would do his classes, and then he and his friends would go study in the chamber with Nathaira and the Founders.
It was strange to say the least, but he was rather fond of his new routine. The basilisk and the founders' portrait had so much untapped knowledge and wisdom that Harry would be a fool not to use it to help him.
He asked questions about Horcruxes, how to locate one, how to destroy one.
He knew there was one within the castle, as the founder's portrait was tuned into the magic of the castle, as was Nathaira. They couldn't pinpoint exactly where, but they vaguely knew it was somewhere on the seventh floor. Harry hazarded a guess that it was in the room of requirement, only when they all went, there were mountains and mountains of things that could potentially be a horcrux and not enough time to sort through every single thing.
They decided as long as they knew vaguely where it was, they would have enough time to look for it soon enough.
He didn't really know how to explain to his family that they were discussing things with the founders of Hogwarts, so he decided it could wait until Winter hols which was next week.
He and his friends were in the chamber once more, and he saw that Fred and George were holding the map and whispering very sharply with one another. Harry, curious as always, approached them.
"What's going on?" Harry asked the twins. They seemed to jerk out of their conversation and looked at Harry nervously.
"We saw something on the map." George began.
"We'd never seen it before, we swear." Fred continued vehemently.
Harry was getting very confused, rightly so.
"What happened?" Harry asked, his voice confused and worried. This caught the attention of their friends, the founders, and Nathaira.
"On the map," George murmured.
"Well, maybe you should see for yourself." Fred said grimly, handing the map to Harry.
He read the names running along the map, pacing, walking, running, spending time in broom closets.
But as his eyes gravitated to the gryffindor common room, they read a name. A name that haunted him forever.
He dropped the map. A flurry of memories playing through his mind.
Nice one, James.
Oh, if only Prongs could get over his moony eyes when he sees Lily.
James, I'm scared. This war is getting too real.
You can trust me, Prongs.
Marauders till the end. We're brothers.
Of course I'll be your secret keeper.
He barely registered the voices around him. He barely registered his trembling body. He didn't notice the tears running down his cheeks. All he knew was that he could not breathe.
-o0o0o0o-
Neville and Draco had never seen Harry react like that before. Draco watched as Harry dropped the map and it fell to the stone ground with only a soft sound of rustling paper. They watched as Harry's eyes darkened considerably, no longer a bright and playful emerald green.
The only thing they saw in his eyes was vengeance and hatred. Anguish. Betrayal. Hurt.
"Harry?" Theo crouched down in front of him. "Harry! Harry, breathe." He begged. "C'mon mate," he cradled Harry's face in his hands as his eyes grew frantic. "Harry, please breathe, come on."
Blaise was rubbing circles into Harry's back as Hermione held his hands and Daphne ran her fingers soothingly through his hair.
"What happened?" Nathaira hissed as she saw the scene.
"We don't know." Neville murmured.
The portrait of the founder's filled the silence as they were all talking at once.
"Please, everyone, be quiet." Draco snapped as he picked up the map and his eyes widened as he immediately handed it to Neville, who gasped.
Draco took the moment of distraction to mirror call Sirius in secret.
"What happened, Draco?" Sirius asked softly.
"Come quick." Draco begged. "We've just found Peter Pettigrew. I'm worried Harry's going to do something he'll regret."
Sirius nodded in grim resignation. Draco ended the call.
"What is going on?" Salazar demanded.
"The man who betrayed Harry's parents is here. In the Gryffindor common room." Neville said back, watching as Harry looked so broken and helpless. Neville felt much the same, seeing his brother suffer and he could do nothing about it except hold him. And he did. They all did. Fred and George had guilt written across their faces. They were all at a loss. Harry was having a panic attack.
"In my common room?" Godric thundered. "Apprehend him immediately!"
"No, Godric." Rowena snapped. "We have to be level headed about this."
"There's no way to be level headed right now, Rowena." Helga said, sighing softly. "This man led to the death of his parents."
"That's no way for a Slytherin to react, Hadrian." Salazar said, goading him. "Stiffen up your upper lip. You couldn't do anything about it when you were a child.." he trailed off.
"But you can damn well do something about it now." He and Godric finished in unison, then glared at one another.
"Stop that." They snapped. Before it could turn into an argument between best friends, Rowena hit them upside the head.
"Will both of you shut it?" She snapped viciously. "Harry," Rowena said kindly. "Please, you cannot do anything irrational." Harry's breathing began to even out as he sat still, somewhat catatonic until he spoke.
"This man is the cause of my parents murder." Harry said, his voice low and small. "I'll kill him."
And with that, he bolted from the chamber, wrenching away from his friends as they began following with hasty and apologetic goodbyes.
They ran and ran and ran. The adrenaline was pumping in their veins as they followed their best friend.
Harry could feel nothing but anger coursing through his veins as it fueled his steps. One step was closer to the man who killed his parents. He would not slow down. He would not stop.
They ran from the second floor all the way to Gryffindor tower, up the steps, into the halls, ignoring everyone who looked at them strangely.
"Harry!" Draco panted as they reached the portrait, grabbing Harry by the shoulders. "Think about what you're about to do!"
Harry ignored him, shoving past him and growling the password for the common room.
He ran into the common room, his eyes scanning and scanning until they narrowed in on a brow, fat rat, missing a toe.
Harry pointed his wand at him and shouted "HOMORPHUS!" The blinding blue light hit the rat who tried to scurry away.
In its place was a fat man, who looked more rat than human.
Everyone in the common room jumped, and every wand was trained at the rat turned man.
"Scabbers?" Ron whimpered, before rounding on Harry. "What have you done to him, you slimy snake!"
"He was an animagus you daft moron!" Hermione snapped, her wand now trained on Ron who had his wand on Harry.
"You betrayed my parents," Harry whispered. "Peter."
Everyone gasped, having heard stories about the infamous Marauders. How a brother turned, and caused the death of one of their own.
A story of betrayal told throughout the Gryffindor common room. A story of war, and the horror of brother turning on brother.
Friend on friend. Brother turned killer.
"I-I didn't mean to!" Peter wailed, throwing himself onto Harry's feet, touching him, grovelling at him. Draco growled in warning at the rat and stepped a menacing step toward the sorry excuse for a man.
"You have no idea the powers of the Dark Lord, Harry. He would have killed me. What would you have done?"
Harry sneered, his wand under Pettigrew's throat.
"Get off me you snivelling rat." He growled. Now, everyone remembered why people feared Hadrian Potter. He looked like a Potter, and he was kind, and smart. But they forgot he was also a Black.
Purebloods have grown up hearing stories about Arcturus Black and Charlus Potter, the formidable duo that took out more than half of Grindelwald's most important men. And right now, Harry looked like both of them, and radiated their power. His eyes seemed to glow with anger and magic.
"What would I have done?" He repeated the question darkly. "What would I have done?" His laugh was sinister and hollow. Hermione flinched.
Draco, Neville, Blaise, and Theo watched with grim satisfaction at the retribution Harry deserved to take. Hermione was shaking, the twins were frozen with shock, and Daphne watched coldly. Her wand steadily trained at the man. Ready to move the moment he tried to do something to Harry.
"I'll show you what I would have done." Harry said. Silently, no spell, only the intent to cause pain, Harry moved his wand in a downward motion slowly, and a deep slash appeared in Pettigrew's abdomen as the man screamed in pain.
Harry didn't register the audience. He only felt pain. Pain. Hurt. Anger.
The entirety of the Gryffindor common room watched in silent shock. Not even Perfect Prefect Percy Weasley made a move to stop Harry.
"You were their friend." He said, his voice now sounding anguished instead of cold. "They trusted you!" Harry was hysterical. Memories that weren't his own playing in his mind of his father and mother. "He loved you like a brother. You didn't deserve that love." He said the last sentence darkly.
Pettigrew was now being asphyxiated by seemingly nothing. His airways began to close. Harry was radiating anger and magic, his eyes glowing even more fiercely.
Sirius and Remus arrived on the scene, watching with expressions of anguish and heartbreak.
Peter was choking now, clawing at his already raw and red throat. His face was turning a horrible shade of puce and his watery blue eyes even more watery now and nearly popping out of his head. Every vein was prominent, as was his pain.
"You didn't deserve to know them. Not when I don't. You don't deserve to have memories with them while I have nothing!" His voice was steadily growing louder as he yelled at the man who robbed him. Harry fell to his knees. Pettigrew slumped over and breathed a large portion of air, the spell ending when the fight left him.
Fred and George were at Harry's side in an instant as the boy began to cry. They looked helplessly at Sirius and Remus, who had bound and stupefied Pettigrew.
He looked at Harry's friends. "Please contact Amelia Bones."
They all nodded and rushed to the fireplace in the common room with an emergency canister of floo powder.
Remus and Sirius gently cradled Harry as he sobbed into Remus' shoulder.
Oliver Wood had watched the scene with satisfaction, albeit aloof and cold. Pettigrew deserved worse than what Harry gave him. But now, as he looked at the smaller Slytherin, he was just…sad.
Everyone in the Gryffindor common room collectively and silently agreed this scene was not to be talked or gossiped about.
This was a boy mourning his parents. And so, they gave him their silent support. And when he is ready, they will give him their vocal support.
Oliver closed his eyes and flinched at the wail of a small boy.
Hadrian cried into Remus Lupin's shoulder. They couldn't tell if the sound was more heartbreaking, or the words.
"The only memories I have of my own parents are when they died. It's not fair." He had said in between sobs.
Sirius felt a tear run down his cheek as he ran his hands through Harry's hair.
Remus trembled. "No, it's not fair, Harry."
"He took everything from me. Not Voldemort. Him."
"I know, Harry." Sirius whispered, fighting back the tears of his own.
DADA professor Cassie Black came from the portrait entrance and simply sat with them for a moment. She kissed Harry on the forehead, then she grabbed the unconscious body of Pettigrew and hauled him through the fire.
-o0o0o0o-
The Gryffindors sat up in the common room. Oliver Wood had called upon Harry's friends from Slytherin.
Miles Bletchley, Lucian Bole, Marcus Flint, Graham Montague, and Adrian Pucey.
Their fathers were on the Wizengamot and undoubtedly knew what had occurred.
"This is going to spread." Alicia Spinnet whispered. "Not everyone is going to keep it a secret for long."
There were murmurs of agreement.
"What are we going to do?" Adrian asked softly, clutching Katie's hand. "Harry doesn't deserve the backlash he'll get for this."
Flint snorted bitterly. "I can see it now. Boy-Who-Lived Turned Dark Lord?" He mocked a headline by Skeeter.
"We have to ensure Harry knows we're by his side." Oliver said resolutely.
"Anything who says a word against him will deal with us." Graham said fiercely, thinking of their little friend who made such an impact on their lives.
"Yes, they will." Angelina Johnson said grimly.
That night, Oliver lay awake in his bed.
What would you have done? The words echoed through Oliver's head that night. Through every Gryffindors head that night.
I would have died. Oliver thought resolutely. I would have died rather than betray my friends.
-o0o0o0o-
Dora was sick to her stomach when she heard, from Alastor Moody, seasoned Auror, only coming to teach her as a favour to Sirius, told her that Peter Pettigrew had been apprehended and carted to Azkaban.
"I'm sorry," she excused. "I have to go see Harry."
"You're skipping training?" Alastor asked incredulously. Dora steeled herself.
"Harry needs me." She snapped, and disappeared in a flurry of emerald flames.
She arrived in the hospital wing and saw Harry was asleep, Draco and Neville curled on either side of him. Sirius and Remus sitting at his bedside, asleep, each holding one of his hands.
She noticed that his other friends were asleep in the other beds. Hermione, Daphne, Theo, Blaise, and the twins.
She smiled softly at the support from his friends, and her heart ached that maybe she didn't need him anymore. She nestled herself in the bed in front of Harry.
She heard a small "Dora?"
"Harry?" She whispered. "Are you okay?"
He didn't answer. Only silently crawled out of bed, being careful not to wake any of them. He crawled into bed with her, curled in a fetal position against her side. She wrapped her arms around him and held him silently.
"Thank you for being here." He whispered. She kissed the crown of his head softly, a tear running down her cheek at the helplessness in his voice.
"Always."
They both pretended that her voice didn't crack. Just as they both pretended that Harry's shaking body was because it was cold, and not because he silently cried himself to sleep in her arms.
-o0o0o0o-
Everything had gone back to normal for Harry and friends by the time Winter holidays were over.
Harry pretended not to notice the way the Gryfferin and Slytherdor teams hovered around him and glared at anyone whispering about him.
Harry pretended not to notice the entirety of Gryffindor house 'subtly' hexing anyone who uttered a word about that night.
He pretended not to notice, but he showed his gratitude nonetheless. In smiles, thanks, and acts of random helpfulness.
But he will show his gratitude much more soon. The Quidditch world cup was coming up, and as he and his family were able to pull some strings, he got each and every one of them box tickets. His friends and the teams.
Twenty-two tickets for himself, his friends, and his family, all in their private box that was more luxurious than even the minister's.
Though he hated his status, sometimes it comes in handy.
He grinned at the tickets that he placed in a locked box on his bedside table, ready to be given to them for the next winter.
They had no idea how much their actions and support meant to him, and hopefully when the time comes, they will feel a sliver of the gratitude he feels for them now.
-o0o0o0o-
As they came back from Winter Holidays, everyone was complaining about Cassiopeia Black and how she was the most formidable and gruelling of the defence teachers in recent memory.
Harry grinned, for she was not Professor Black to him, but she was Aunt Cassie.
She assigned duelling projects, there were duels in her class, mock ones, of course. She assigned essays and practical work and enjoyed watching every moment of the suffering of her charges.
As they all sat in her class during a rare lecture, she grinned as they were about to be dismissed.
"Your assigned projects are going to be for duels. You will research a spell and study it until you can perform it silently and with your eyes closed." She instructed her second years. Perhaps it was a bit too much to make them perform silently, but war was on the horizon.
They will thank her for it eventually. She then looked at her advanced students, Draco, Harry, and Neville.
"You three will do a three-way mock duel and write me an essay on the history of duelling."
She beamed as they groaned and pouted. "Class dismissed!"
A/N: Not much dumbledore bashing in this chapter, or any appearance from him whatsoever. I know this was rather short, but since it was very emotional I hope I will be forgiven. I hope you liked your first glimpse into powerful Harry and somewhat dark. It was a very hard thing to write and I cried many times writing this chapter. Please review and give feedback, it helps motivate me :) what would you like me to add next chapter?